Letter-box bell



Patented Oct. 2,6, 1 880;

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co@ @Cf N, PETERS, Pnoro-UTMQGRAPNE UNITED STATES PATENT CHRISTOPHER HERMANN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER-BOX BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,617, dated October 26, 1880.

Application led May 31, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER HERMANN, of the city and county of l/Vorcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter- Boxes for House, Office, and other Doors; and I do hereby declare that the followin g is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents so much of the outside of a door with my said invention applied thereto as is necessary to illustrate the same. Fig. 2 represents so much of the inside of a door with my invention applied thereto as is necessary to illustrate the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on line A B, Fig. )i, looking in the direction of arrow l, same iigure; and Fig. 4 represents a section on line C D, Fig.2, looking in the same direction.

To enable those skilled in the art to which myinvention belongs to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, the part marked A represents a section of a door, to which is secured upon the outside a flanged plate, B', while upon the inside of the door is secured a letter-box, C', the flanged plate B and letter-box C being secured to the door in this instance by screws D', which pass through holes in the flanged .plate B', and through the door A into holes providedwith screw-threads in the cone-like projections D, cast on the letter-box C. The

letter-box, it will be observed, is open on the side next to the door, the door forming a portion of the letter-box on that side.

It will be observed that the letter-box C' is cast in a single piece with cone-like projections D, for securing the same to the door and the flanged plate B', whereby acompact, cheap, and secure letter-box ispobtained.

Upon the inside, opening into the room, an opening, E, is formed in the lower part ofthe box, in which is iitted a sliding frame, F, so arranged that it can be slid up and down, as occasion may require, for removing the contents from the box.

Sliding frame F is shown down in full lines, Fig. 4, and slid up in dotted lines, same figure. Said sliding frame, i-n this instance, is fitted to work between iianges or side guides on the letter-box; but it may be retained in position in any other convenient manner when down or when run up.

The center of frame F is provided with a glass, G, for the purpose of permitting the occupants of the house, room, or office to observe by a glance whether or not any mail-matter has been deposited in the box.

An opening, H, is cut in the door, which receives the flanges c of `the flanged'plate B', and this opening H is closed or covered by means of .a hinged shield or guard, I, the lower end, b, of which is curved and projects out, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. of the drawings, thereby aiiording a convenient means of raising the same, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, for depositing mail-matter and other correspondence in the letterbox C. Thehinged shield or guard I turns upon the pivots c, (indicated in full and dotted lines in the drawings but it may be otherwise suspended, provided it is so arranged as to perform the necessary functions required.

J is a bell secured to one side of the letterbox, which is in the room or building, and this bell is struck by means ot' hammer' d every time the shield or guard I is raised for depositing matter in the letter-box C, this operation being performed by the following mechanism: Hammer d is secured to the end of rod or wire c, which, in turn, is secured to shank j', pivoted at g to the side of the letter-box C', the end of the shank f extending beyond the pivot g and having combined with it a spiral or other spring, h, which tends to draw the hammer d down with considerable force upon the bell J. From one edge of the shank f extends a spur, m, which is acted Vupon by means of a dog, n, secured to the end of a journal, 2, projecting through the side of the letterbox. Dog n is pivoted so that it will swing back and pass easily over spur m after the bell has been struck. A small spring, p, is combined with dog n and journal 2, so as to hold dog n in position when it is pressing down upon the upper iat surface of spur m to press out hammer d to strike the bell. (See Fig. 3.) Stud or journal 2 is turned to operate dog n by having a crank-arm fastened to its inner end, (inside of the letter-box,) the lower end of IOC which is connected to a lug or ear-piece, 0, upon the shield or guard I by means of a hinged coupling-piece, 3, as fully indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, of the drawings.

'Ihe operation is as follows: The postal messenger or other person having occasion to leave letters, papers, or other messages approaches the door and raises the shield or guard I and `passes the mail-matter or other correspondence through the opening H into the letter-box C', and by which operation part I is raised, dog u depressed, aud hammer Z thrown out and then allowed to fall back to strike the bell, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3. Spring h, contracting, causes hammer l to strike the bell with considerable force, and the power of such spring maybe increased as desired. A stop-pin, 5, is employed to pre vent the spring rod or wire e from being bent or broken by the contraction of spring h.

Those skilled in the artwill at once perceive the great practical utility of my invention.

Having described my improved letter-box for house, office, and other doors, what I claim therein as new an d of my invention, and desire t-o secure by Letters Patentis l. The combination, with a rooms door provided with an opening, H, of a perforated faceplate, B, anges a therein, shield I, pivoted to said anges and provided with lug 0, coupling-rod 3, pivoted springdog n, and spur m on a ham mer-shank, f, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a plate, B', secured to the outside of a door, said plate having a central opening, flanges a around said opening, shield I, pivoted to said flanges within said opening, with an inner box, G, a springdog` journal, 2, passing through the side of said box, and a bell, J, secured to the same side, with mechanism to actuate the hammer d, as shown and described.

CHRISTOPHER HERMANN.

Witnesses Trios. H. DODGE, EDWIN E. MOORE. 

